An Indian national has been arrested in the United States in connection with a child sexual abuse case, according to federal authorities.
The accused, identified as Odela Yashasvi Kothapalli, was taken into custody as the investigation moved forward. Officials with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Kothapalli had entered the country without proper documentation.
Law enforcement officials said the arrest took place in New Jersey, where Kothapalli is now facing charges tied to alleged sexual offenses involving children under the age of 13.
Authorities also indicated that investigators are looking into possible connections to other incidents, including allegations of theft and disorderly conduct. Those matters remain under review.
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Details of the arrest were made public in a statement posted on social media by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The agency, however, has not specified when the case was formally filed or the exact date Kothapalli was taken into custody.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement wrote on X:
“-SEXUAL ASSAULT OF A CHILD UNDER 13
-SHOPLIFTING
-PUBLIC DISORDER
Vodela Yashaswi Kottapalli, a criminal illegal alien from India, has pending charges for sexual assault and larceny in New Jersey. We’ll keep him in custody pending removal proceedings.”
Officials said the investigation remains active as authorities continue to gather evidence and review the allegations.
At the same time, removal proceedings have been set in motion to seek his deportation from the United States, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
More information is expected to be released as both the criminal case and the immigration process move ahead.
Within minutes of the post going live, the comment section filled up with strong reactions. One user wrote, “Only 700,000 left to go,” while another said, “Sexual assault on a child 😱 Horrible, if found guilty has to be given strictest punishments!!”
A third commenter added, “Thank you patriots for keeping our streets safe! 🇺🇸” Another post read, “There is absolutely zero room for negotiation when it comes to the safety of children. Whether someone is a citizen or not, these kinds of allegations deserve the maximum weight of the law. It’s a relief to see ICE and local law enforcement moving quickly to keep someone facing these charges off the streets. Let’s hope the judicial process is swift and the victims get the justice they deserve. #PublicSafety.”
Under New Jersey law, alleged sexual assault of a child younger than 13 ranks among the gravest criminal charges and, if proven in court, can lead to lengthy prison terms. Theft-related offenses such as larceny or shoplifting are prosecuted based on the value of the goods involved and a defendant’s prior record, while disorderly conduct cases generally stem from incidents that disrupt public order.
The arrest also comes amid a broader uptick in deportations of Indian nationals.
Public records show that Kothapalli, is a revenue village and semi-urban settlement in the Kothapalli Mandal of Karimnagar district in Telangana. In this case, the accused’s last name corresponds to the name of that village, a common naming convention in parts of southern India where surnames often reflect a family’s place of origin.